How much does it cost to paint exterior doors?

Painting an exterior door with either a pop of color or a refresh of the current hue can change the entire look of your house. Of all the exterior painting projects, painting doors is the most DIY-friendly, but it is always a good idea to hire a professional. Prices can vary based on style, paint, and number of doors, but the average exterior door costs $100 to paint.

Cost breakdown

Materials: Most professional painters recommend using a primer 1 and two coats of paint on exterior doors. The paint typically costs $20-$50 per gallon depending on brand, quality, and amount needed, but multiple doors can be painted from the same gallon. Other materials include brushes and tape, as well as any caulking 2 or supplies to repair the door.

Labor: The majority of your painting budget will go to labor costs. Most professional painters earn an average of $20-$35 per hour and may take one to two hours to paint a door, depending on the skill required.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Adding a fancy paint, such as high-gloss or weather resistant, can increase the cost by up to double, depending on the quality and brand.

Replacing the door will obviously increase the cost. If you purchase the door on your own, many painters will paint it before installing it, but they will charge you extra for the additional installation time, typically around $100.

Doors with lots of windows tend to require more skill and time, thus increasing your labor costs. Similarly, older doors or those original to the house can also require greater care and costs and can increase your costs by up to 100%, depending on the skill required.

Additional considerations and costs

Damaged doors that need to be repaired or patched, can greatly increase the cost, often doubling the standard price.

Using multiple colors, even for small accent colors, can add up to an extra $30-$50 per door, depending on the number of colors and the area they cover.

Even if it it is good condition, a door that is dirty or covered in mildew will typically require an additional hour or two to clean and prep, which will increase your labor costs with more time spent working.

Homes built before 1978 may still have lead 3 paint on the doors. If this is the case, the painter will need to scrape and remove the paint. This job can be toxic, so it should only be done by a professional. If the door is in good shape underneath the lead 3 paint, it is safe to keep with a new coat of paint.

Many professional painters will discount their services if you have your siding or trim painted at the same time as your doors. Prices depend on the painter, but some offer discounts up to 40% off.

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Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.

1Primer: Preparatory coat applied to materials (drywall, wood, metal, etc.) before painting to ensure paint adhesion, extend paint durability, and help seal and protect the surface to be painted

2Caulking: A chemical sealant used to fill in and seal gaps where two materials join, for example, the tub and tile, to create a watertight and airtight seal. The term "caulking" is also used to refer to the process of applying this type of sealant

3Lead: A naturally occurring heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans, and has been used in paint, gasoline, piping, and other applications

How much does it cost to paint exterior doors in my city?

Cost to paint exterior doors varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.

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Change history

Nov 15, 2017

We have added an image of the project, and a summary at the beginning with the cost of painting a exterior door to help the user better understand the project, and an index to take you directly to any part of the guide.